Page 70 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“Welcome back,” Felix greeted, the moment Ryder drew the steed to a halt at the foot of the steps.
“Nathan mentioned ye ran across a spot of trouble,” Ryder said as he jumped off the horse and turned to help Morgana down.
Her eyes were brimming with questions that he didn’t have the answers to. He turned to Felix, hoping against hope that there was some excuse for the attack.
“Aye,” Felix uttered, rubbing his knuckles. “But I have to hand it to Ronnie; he was quite the help tonight. The lad certainly held his own and saved more than just my hide.”
Ryder glanced over at Felix. “Mind tellin’ me how Nathan was let out without my express order?”
“I’ll investigate,” Felix assured, his back ramrod straight. “If there’s a traitor, I swear I’ll find him and lay yer vengeance at yer feet.”
“I’ll hold ye to that,” Ryder said. He watched as Morgana fidgeted with her fingers, far too anxious for news. “As for now, what news of my family, the Websters?”
“Ye’ll find them with Orella,” Felix answered. “They’re alive and well, with nothin’ but a few bruises and scratches. I swear, nothin’ that will make ye wonder who ye’re lookin’ at.”
“Thank ye, Felix,” Morgana said with a nod, “for watchin’ over my braithers when ye didnae have to.”
“It is my job, Lady McKenzie.” Felix bowed his head.
Ryder watched his friend struggle to hold back a smile. He could see Felix was making an effort to show compassion and respect for the lady of the clan. If only others would be so loyal and keep their oaths.
He gritted his teeth as he turned to glare at the guards in the doorway.
“I understand now why my faither ruled with such an iron fist,” he muttered to Felix. “If the clansfolk willnae stop underminin’ my orders, I’ll have to start chopping off heads.”
Felix stopped dead in his tracks and shook his head. “Thought ye said ye’d never be as cruel as yer faither.”
Ryder’s anger brewed and festered as he marched for his study. He didn’t care that the servants scurried out of his way as he passed. Nor did he pay any heed to the sharp whispers as he pushed through his study door.
The second the door clicked shut, he rounded on Felix.
“Speak quickly, and leave nothin’ out,” he demanded. “Start with Nathan bein’ released. I’m guessin’ Cohen had a hand in that?”
“That I dinnae ken,” Felix answered sincerely. He sucked in a sharp breath when Ryder’s eyes flashed. “We just arrived an hour ago. I barely saw him when we came in.”
Ryder shook his head and patted him on the shoulder. As much as he wanted to throw Cohen in the dungeons, he had to listen to reason. Even if that voice of reason spoke as softly as Morgana.
“I understand,” he answered, trying to hide the disappointment in his tone. “But listen to me, and listen well. I want ye to keep a close eye on Nathan and Cohen. They’re becomin’ rebellious. My faither kenned the right way to deal with those who disrespected him. I cannae have the clan divided as it is. I will have unity.”
“Ye do realize that it might nae happen?” Felix cautioned.
“Aye,” Ryder uttered somberly, before clearing his throat. “What information have ye gathered about the bandits? Did ye catch anythin’ out of place? Or noticed anythin’ that set them apart?”
“They were skilled and swift. Now that I look back on it, I should have seen the signs. There were seven men at the tavern we’d stopped at.”
Ryder furrowed his brow and folded his arms over his chest. “We?”
“Tormod and myself,” Felix clarified. “Ronnie was lookin’ for a place for us to rest, as there were nay rooms available. I swear we didnae say a word to provoke them, but the next thing I kenned, the group was filing out of the tavern, each givin’ us deathly glares. Didnae think anythin’ of it until we reached the outskirts of the village.”
Ryder balled his fists as every muscle in his body tensed. How he wished he could have been there to help. It irked him beyond anything to know that the attack happened so close to the castle.
“Go on,” he prompted.
Felix pulled a flask from his sporran and took a long swig. “Tormod was on the ground. I dinnae ken what he was hit with, but when he fell, he bounced right back up, ready to throw punches. The lad’s a fighter. But more men came out of the shadows, taking their time with us. I fell. If Ronnie hadnae come around when he did… well, I dinnae ken what would have happened to us. But I’m certain we were close.”
* * *
“Will ye be still and let me examine ye?” Morgana huffed as she glared at Ronnie.
